Monkey-wrench.



PATENTED OUT. 2, 1906.

-A.`L.GAGNON.` MONKEY WRENCH;

APPLIUATION FILE) MAR. 9, 1906.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALPI-IAGE L. GAGNON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MONKEY-WRENCH Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2,1906.

Application led March 9,1906. serial No. 305,188, i

. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monkey-Wrenches,of which `the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to quick-action monkey-wrenches of the kind inwhich the movable jaw has the capability of free sliding movements onthe wrench-bar, so as to be positioned instantly to embrace a nut orother part to be engagedby the wrench-jaws, the movable jawl immediatelyit comes to contact against the nut or other engaged part automaticallybecoming interlocked with the wrench-bar. p

The objects of this invention are to produce a wrench of the generalclass mentioned of simple andrineXpensive construction and comprisingcomparatively few parts, all of which are practicable of manufacture byapproved methods, and to obtain a wrench which is strong, durable, andso generally superior and attractive as to be readily accepted in thetrade.

The improvements are clearly shown in the accompanying drawings,described hereinafter, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is substantially a central longitudinalsectional view through the wrench, the wrench-bar and xed jaw being inside view. Fig. 2 is substantially va similar view to Fig. l, but seenon a sectional plane at right angles thereto. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionon line 3 3, Fig. l. is a perspective view of parts of the wrench inseparated relations. Fig. 5 is a plan or upper end view of a fitting orbushing piece .comprised in this wrench construction.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all ofthe views.

In the drawings, Arepresents the wrenchbar, having its forward portion across-sectionally rectangular and its rear portion b of cylindrical formand lsomewhat reduced, said portion b being screw-threaded, as seen atd, at its end portion, and the so-formed wrenchbar has the rectangularshoulder e at the junction of its differently-formed portions a vand b.The wrench-bar has a Xed jaw B at its forward end, as usual, and isprovided Fig. 4

with a series of ratchet-teeth along its inner or under edge, asrepresented at f. The wrench-bar is, furthermore, constructed withloigitudinal grooves g g within its opposite s1 es.

C represents the movable jaw, having an apertured or yoke-like portionh, which embraces and is slidable along the wrench-bar with a reasonablyclose fit, the aperture through the jaw portion 7L being of such formand dimension as to permit a rocking movement transversely relatively tothe wrenchbar of the movable jaw, and the movable jaw has a tooth orportion t for engagement with the ratchet-teeth of the bar. The movablejaw, moreover, has the thumb-engagement portion j at its side or edgeopposite the ratchet-tooth-engagement part i.

D D represent comparatively long thin rods sunk within and endwisemovable along the aforesaid longitudinal wrench-bar groove g g, theserods having outwardly-extending short projections or lugs 7c k at theirforward ends which engage in small recesses or perforations m fm in theopposite cheeks or walls of the movable jaw. The said rods d d havesimilar outwardly-extending lugs or projections cz k2 at their rearends.

E represents a cylindrical tubular handle constructed with a forwardlyopen end n and a closed rear end o, the same being most cheaply andpracticably produced as an elongated cold-drawn cup o'r end-closed tubeand having a circularA block or nut p tightly pressed in the rear closedend of the tubular handle, the screw-threaded hole in this block or nutp being coincident with the aXis of the wrench-bar, and the said block pmay in addition to its engagement by the driving fit in the handle alsobe confined by thelockingpin Q. G represents a spiral spring surroundingthe rear portion of the wrench-bar inclosed within said hollow handle,having one end in bearing against thel nut p and its other end inbearing against a washer s, which is freely slidable along the roundportion b of the wrench-bar and which is in engagement against the rearend lugs k2 k2 of the aforementioned rods D.

I-I represents a generally cylindrical fitting or bushing piece havingthe external liange t and made with a squared outer end socket u andwith a circular hole o leading from the IOO socket rearwardly throughsuch piece, and in I the assemblage of the wrench parts the cylindricalbody of this bushing closely fits within the forward open end portion ofthe tubular handle and the iiange t overlaps the end of the handle, andthe aforementioned rectangular shoulder e of the wrench-bar is iittedand seated in the rectangular socket u of the bushing, and the parts areall held together in their proper relations by the screw-threadengagement between the end d ofthe wrenchbar and the art p, formed asone with the closed end of the handle, the screw action drawing thewrench-bar so that its shoulder firmly bottoms at the base of the socketu.

By merely turning the handle E in the proper direction to unscrew itentirely from engagement with the wrench-bar all of the separate partsmay be removed, the handle slipping away from the bushing 7L, permittingthe spring and washer to be taken off,where upon the rods D D, with themovable jaw,

-also the bushing h, may be all disengaged from the wrench-bar and fromeach other. This enables the spring or any other part to be easilyreplaced.

In operation the wrench-handle being grasped, for instance, by the righthand the thumb thereof may be extended forwardly to engage thethumb-piece y', and the movable jaw may be Withdrawn and separated fromthe fixed jaw easily more than enough to let the jaws pass completelyover the nut or part to be turned, it being explained that the pressurenaturally exerted by the thumb will so slightly rock the jaw as to carryits engagement part i free from the ratchet-teeth. The thumb engagementbeing released, the spiral spring, through the medium of the rods d d,having forward end engagements with the jaw, force the latter closelyagainst the nut, and the movable jaw will immediately or so soon as anystrain is brought thereagainst, as in turning the nut, be rocked to theposition shown in Fig. 1, its tooth or engaging part i interlocking inthe adjacent wrench bar ratchet-tooth of course preventing the movablejaw from receding in the nut-turning action.

I claim- 1. The combination with a wrench-bar, having a xed jaw, and aseries of ratchetteeth, and provided with longitudinal grooves in itsopposite sides, of a second jaw having a portion embracing and slidablealong the wrench-bar, adapted for a slight rocking movement relativelythereto, and provided with recesses in its opposite sides, and alsohaving a tooth or portion for engagement with the ratchet-teeth of thebar, rods in, and

endwise movable along, the grooves, having outwardly-extendingprojections engaging in said recesses in the slidable jaw, a springencircling the handle portion of the wrench-bar and operable to exert aforwardly-sliding action against said rod.

2. The combination with a wrench-bar, having a iixed jaw, and a seriesof ratchetteeth, and provided with longitudinal grooves in its oppositesides, of a second jaw having a portion embracing and slidable along thewrench-bar, adapted for a slight rocking teeth and provided withlongitudinal grooves in its opposite sides, of a second jaw having aportion embracing and slidable along the wrench-bar, adapted for aslight rocking movement relatively thereto and provided with recesses inits opposite sides, and also having a tooth or portion for engagementwit'h the ratchet-teeth of the bar, rods in and endwise movable alongthe grooves, having outwardly-extending projections at theirforward endsengaging in said recesses in the slidable jaw, and havingoutwardly-projecting lugs at their rear ends, a hollow handle-1surrounding the rearward portion of the wrench-bar, a spring encirclingthe handle portion of the wrench-bar within said hollow handle andoperable to exert a forwardlyforcing action against said rods.

4. The combination with a Wrench-bar, having its forward portioncross-sectionally rectangular and its rearward portion of cylindricalform, and screw-threaded at its extremity, having a rectan ular shoulderat the junction of its different y-formed portions, having a fixed jaw,provided with a series of ratchet-teeth along its under edge, andprovided with longitudinal grooves in its opposite sides, of a secondjaw having a portion embracing and slidable along the wrenchbar, adaptedfor a rocking movement relatively thereto, and provided with recesses inits opposite sides, and also having a tooth orl portion for engagementwith the ratchetteeth of the bar, rods in, and endwise movable along,the grooves, having outwardly-extending projections at their forwardends en- IOS IIO

IZO

gaging in said recesses in the slidable jaw and having outwardly-turnedprojections at their rear ends, a cylindrical tubular handle constructedwith a forwardly-open end and a closed rear end portion having an axialscrewthreaded hole, a cylindrical externallyflanged bushing-piece,fitted within the forward open end of the handle, and made with asquared outer socket and circular hole leading rearwardly therefrom andtherethrough, the rectangular shouldered intermediate portion of thewrench-bar being iitted in said socket and the cylindrical rearward endofv the bar extending through the circular hole in the bushing and witha screw engagement in the rear end of the handle, a washer slidable onthe handle-inclosed rear portion of the wrench-bar and in Contactagainst the rear end projections of said rods, and a spring insetts, inpresence of two subscribing wit- I5 nesses.

ALPHAGE L. GAGNON. Witnesses:

ALBERT J. SToRMs, WM. S. BELLows.

